Supersensitive head impact fuse



Nov. 10, 1931. A. VARAUD 1,831,520

SUPERSENSITIVE HEAD IMPACT FUSE Filed June 10, 1931 fall/271 507;

fin 2 7% b l bag Patented Nov. 10, 1931 ANDRE VARAUD, F GENEVA, SWITZERLAND SUPIERSENSITIVE HEAD IMPACT FUSE Application filed June 10, 1931, Serial No. 543,447, and in Switzerland June 19, 1930.

My invention relates to a super-sensitive head impact fuse for artillery projectiles.

In mechanisms of this kind the head of the striker pin is pushed by air pressure during the flight of the projectile and means must be provided to retain the same. It has been proposed to use a spring, a transversal P111 of pie-determined strength. It has also been proposed to protect the striker head by a thin cap which breaks on impact.

According to my invention, the head of the striker is in the form of an inverted cupshaped member having its open end closed by a thin metallic diaphragm which may centrally bear against a tubular member through which is p'assed the striker pin. When the striker head receives the least blow the diaphragm is broken and the pin acts on the detonator.

In the annexed drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of the fuse in the position in which it may be handled.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the fuse during its travel through the gun.

Fig. 3 shows the fuse during the flight of the projectile.

Fig. 4: shows the fuse during the impact.

The fuse comprises a body 1, a cap 2, a striker pin 3, a detonator support 4 with its spring 4a and a centrifugal bolt 5.

The striker head 8 is in the form of an inverted cup-shaped member having its open end closed by a thin metallic diaphragm 7 for instance of soft copper. Diaphragm 7 is of course centrally apertured to accommodate the striker pin 3.

A tubular member 6 is disposed around pin 3 and so as to bear against diaphragm 7 (Fig. 1).

The device works as follows:

In the position of Fig. 1, the striker pin is maintained by diaphragm 7. Should it eventually receive a hard blow, the dia-' phragm would be only slightly depressed, the pin being locked by bolt 5 as in the case of Fig. 2. The projectile can thus be safely handled.

When the projectile is fired in the gun, pin 3 tends to depress diaphragm 7 by inertia. vented by bolt 5 (Fig. 2).

During the flight, the rotation of the projectile causes bolt 5 to laterally escape (Fig. 3). The striking system is then only.

But breakage of the latter is premaintained by diaphragm 7 the strength of whlch 1s ust sufiiclent to resist the action of air pressure against head 8.

WVhen the projectile encounters any object, whatever sli ht it may be, the blow is suficient to cause diaphragm 7 to open upwardly (Fig. at). Pin 3 is thus free to sink and to strike the detonator. The advantage 7 opened tubular central part of diaphragm 7 is freed from any friction against the body of member 6.

I claim:

1. A supersensitive head impact fuse for projectiles comprising in combination a fuse body; a detonator within said body; a striker pin coaxial with said bod and adapted to strike said detonator on sinking into said body; a safety bolt adapted to maintain said striker pin against inertia during the firing of the projectile; a striker head in the form of an inverted cup-shaped member fixed at the free end of said striker pin; a tubular member fixed to the fuse body co-axially with said striker pin, said member being sufiiciently restricted in diameter to enter freely said inverted cup-shaped striker head, when said striker pin is sunk into the fuse body; and a diaphragm closing the open end of said striker head, said diaphragm being centrally provided with a hole of a diameter such that said pin may pass freely through said diaphragm but that said tubular member bears against the same and thus 7 I prevents said striker head from sinking un der the action of air pressure, the strength of sald dlaphragm bemg however insufficient to resist even a slight blow on said striker head. 7 V

2. A head impactfuse as claimed in claim 1 wherein the external diameter, of the tubular member is somewhat enlarged at its upper end, whereby When said diaphragm has been opened upon an impact, it is free from contact with said tubular member and thus does not exert any braking action on the striking system.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ANDRE VABAUD. 

